This photograph, from a “paste-up” for Brigman’s book Songs of a Pagan, is representative of much of her work. Brigman was interested in natural images, including seascapes and trees gnarled and transformed by the elements, and in the female form in the natural landscape. In many compositions, the photographer uses female models to represent mythical sprites and spirits. During the early days of photography, many painters’ models refused to work with photographers because they believed the medium was too realistic and apt to capture them more unfavorably than painters who idealized the human form. Because of this, Brigman and other women photographers posed for one another and made many self-portraits.